Category: Tech

When it comes to my home internet I’m a bit obsessive. I check my speed several times a day, and I am very cognizant of latency. I’ve read deeply into cable modems and the “channels” they can handle as well as twisted pair DSL, and Fiber. I digress into something more helpful.

I have always felt that 20Mbps should be enough for most homes, and my plan is currently at 200Mbps! Even at these speeds my Netflix was buffering, and when I have multiple kids on Minecraft and the Wii the network feels like dialup. We have been through so many wireless routers that I have a graveyard of the ones that didn’t get returned. (anyone want a nighthawk?)

Mesh network technology has been around for a long time in internet years. It’s a sound technology and usually reserved for complicated setups and administration in businesses, and especially warehouse spaces. So when I was reading what Google and Eero and other companies were doing I was intrigued, but not enough to keep messing with my routers and my settings.

Then one fateful day I was walking through Lowes with Tina and we ended up in the home automation section (not shocking). I was explaining the various devices and how we should probably get some more Nest smoke detectors, when we came to the wifi devices. As I explained to Tina how these work, it all clicked for me. Why would I NOT be using these! Google had just conveniently discounted their 3 Pack to $269 I could not wait to find the time to install them.

The install took about 20 minutes. That is, from the time I opened the box to having placed the devices and we were up and surfing! Our perceived bandwidth went from slooooooooow to almost predictive. Facebook on iOS no longer lagged on loading below the fold, Netflix was crystal clear…the whole show, and no one wondered when I paused their internet, if it was me or Comcast. Reliable home internet! Yay!